Down on the Farm
A look at Members who were involved in agriculture while serving in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Also featured is the popular Pennsylvania Farm Show!
Representative Sara Steelman at Farm Show by Pennsylvania House of RepresentativesPennsylvania House of Representatives Archives
Farming is one of the largest industries in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It still remains one of the top occupations of former House Members. While not every Member featured here is a farmer, agriculture remains a top priority for many.
Arthur D. Hershey
A Member of the House from 1983 to 2008 representing Chester and Lancaster Counties. Before his time in the House, Hershey was a dairy and hog farmer. In addition, he was the owner of Ar-Joy Farm in Chester County.
Items from the Arthur D. Hershey collection. Left, a photo following the milking competition at the Pennsylvania Farm Show, and right, a letter from Senator Mike Brubaker congratulating Hershey on their win in the competition.
Speeches and talking points from a speech to the Quaker City Farm Association.
From the Farm to the House
A book by Arthur D. Hershey on his life. He explains what it's like living on a farm and his eventual election to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
Representative Sheila Miller by Pennsylvania House of RepresentativesPennsylvania House of Representatives Archives
Sheila Miller
Represented Berks County in the House from 1993 to 2006. Miller has a degree in agriculture from The Pennsylvania State University. She was a district conservationist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture before owning and operating her own farm in Berks County Deitschland Farm.
Women in Agriculture Day (21st Century) by Representative Sheila MillerPennsylvania House of Representatives Archives
Women in Agriculture
Miller was candid about being both a Representative and a farmer. This audio clip describes the challenges faced by Members who also own farms.
Samuel W. Morris
A member of the House from 1971 to 1978 and from 1981 to 1990 representing Chester County. While Morris was not a farmer by trade, he was an advocate for farm preservation in Pennsylvania. He and his wife were the founders of the French and Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust.
Speech to the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau (20th Century) by Representative Samuel W. MorrisPennsylvania House of Representatives Archives
A speech on farmland preservation by Representative Samuel W. Morris
Martha Gibbons Thomas
She was one of the first eight women elected to the House in 1923. A native of Chester County, she represented her home county in the House from 1923 to 1926. Before her House service, Thomas was a farmer. She was also a board member for the School of Horticulture for Women.
A list of Members attending the 1924 Agricultural Meeting on House Bill 1584
Many Members attended local fairs to support their local farmers. Here are Representatives Tim Solobay, second from left and H. William DeWeese, second from right with locals.
It would not be fair season without a fair booklet like this one from Plainfield, Pennsylvania.
Representatives Dan Surra and Jeff Coy by Pennsylvania House of RepresentativesPennsylvania House of Representatives Archives
The Pennsylvania Farm Show
The first full week of January marks an annual state tradition: The Pennsylvania Farm Show. Each year over 400,000 visitors travel to the Farm Show complex in Harrisburg to attend the largest indoor agricultural event in the United States and world.
It was not until January 23-25, 1917 that the first, official state-wide farm show was held in Harrisburg at a farm machine dealer. State appropriations, passed by the General Assembly, eventually allowed for the construction of a building to house the growing farm show. The building was originally known as the “Pennsylvania Corn, Fruit, Vegetable, Dairy Products, and Wool Show.”
Representative Rosemarie Swanger, second from left, with others for a student award.
Representative Marcia Hahn's award for the VIP Dairy Showmanship Contest.
In 1921, livestock were introduced into the farm show with more farmers entering different animals into the show in the years following. In order to keep the farm show in Harrisburg, state officials started scouting land large enough for a new building to host the growing event. The land chosen, along Cameron Street, in 1931 is the same site the farm show is held today.
Members visiting different exhibits at the Farm Show.
The Farm Show is always a favorite amongst House Members. Many collect various forms of memorabilia to showcase the importance of agriculture not only in their districts, but across Pennsylvania.
All items and images are part of the PA House Archives collection.
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